Automatic weighing-machine.



No. 849,131. PATENTED APR. 2; 1907.

G. HOEPNBR. v AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1905.

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No. 849 131 PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

G. HOBPNBR. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING'MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1905.

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' PATBNTED APR. 2, 1907. G. HOEPNBR; AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE;

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APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1905.

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UNITED STATES Arnnr OFFICE.

GEORGE HOEPNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SCALE &

MFG. CO., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

AUTOMATIC WElGHlNG-IVIAOHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed June 17, 1905. Serial No. 266,762.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOEPNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and-useful Improvement in Automatic I/Veighing-Machines and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

'My invention relates in general to weigh ing-machines, and more particularly to ma chines for automatically weighing predetermined quantities of material.

In automatic weighing-machines of the type covered by United States Letters Patent No. 761,587, granted to me on May 31, 1904, the material to be weighed is supplied by gravity to a receptacle first in a large main flow until the receptacle has nearly received the predetermined quantity and subsequently in a small supplemental fiow until the weight is counterbalanced. The flow of material to the receptacle is controlled by two gates, both of which are open during the main flow, and then one gate is closed; but as it has a restricted notch through it the sup ply of material continues in a supplemental or completing flow. The second gate is closed, entirely cutting off the supply when the predetermined amount of material has been delivered to the receptacle.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an automatic weighing-machine of the type referred to in which the main supply of material to the receptacle will be terminated by means directly actuated by the lowering of the receptacle, while the supplemental supply will be cut off by means directly actuated by the scale-beam.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic weighing machine in j which the rising of a two-compartment receptacle when the discharge-gate is tripped to open one compartment and close the other will directly actuate mechanism for again opening the main supply of material to the closed compartment of the receptacle.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a weighing-machine in which the opening and closing of the discharge-gates from the receptacle may be operated either manually or automatically by means actuated directly by the final sinking of the receptacle, due to the completion of the predetermined load therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic weighing-machine of the character covered by my prior patent, above referred to, which will be simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive in manufacture, and eiiicient in operation.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view Fig. 2, an enlarged detail view; Fig. 3, an elevatio'nal view of the opposite side of the machine to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l, an enlarged elevational view of the upper portion of the machine looking from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a view of the gates and actuating mechanism in their open positions; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the main supply-gate closed; Fig. 7, a horizontal sectional view through the supply hopper and gates.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference-letter A indicates a supportingframe, from which depend columns C C, at the lower ends of which is supported a frame B. Any suitable means may be provided for securing the ends of the columns to the upper and lower frames such, for instance, as rings a on the frame A and b on the frame B, surrounding the ends of the columns.

Reference characters D and D indicate parallel arms forming part of the scale-beam D. The arms D 'and D are pivotally sup ported upon brackets a and a depending from the frame A. An arm at projects outwardly from the scale-beam D and extends through a guide A, projecting from and supported by the frame A. Set-screws a and a are supported at the top and bottom of the guide A and serve as adjustable stops to limit the movement of the arm (:1.

E designates a weighing-receptacle of any suitable size and shape, which is provided at its upper-end with a surrounding frame 6, lying between the arms D and D of the scale-beam and upon which it is pivotally supported by pins d and d Projecting upwardly from the weighing-receptacle E, at opposite sides thereof, are arms E and E the upper ends of which engage and lift studs 0 and 6 which extend through elongated slots in crank-arms f and f rigidly fixed upon stub-shafts F and F The outer ends of the stub-shafts are journaled in brackets A and A which are mounted upon and project upwardly from the top frame A. The inner ends of the stubshafts are supported in bearings formed in the supply-hopper G, as shown in Fig. 7. Secured to the stubshaft F is a weight F, which may be adjusted by means of a clamp-screwf.

H indicates a gate having arms h 7t projecting upwardly at each side of the supplyhopper G and rigidly secured to the stubshafts F and F by clamp-screws h. The gate H has a notch hformed in its loweredge, as shown in Fig. 7.

H indicates a second gate located below the first gate H and provided withupwardlyprojecting arms 7L2 7L2, which are loosely supported by the stub-shafts F and F The gate H is provided with an upwardly-projecting bracket H through which a setscrew k extends. The gate H is provided with an ear h, projecting into the plane of the set-screw 7L K indicates a pair of links pivotally connected to form a knee-joint, one of such links being pivotally connected to a bracket K, secured to the frame A, while the other of such links is pivotally connected to one of the supporting-arms 7L2 of the gate IP.

7c indicates a support projecting upwardly from the frame A, upon which the knee-j oint of the links K rests when the links are in alinement, as shown in Fig. 5.

k indicates a rod projecting upwardly from and rigidly secured to the scale-beam D, the upper end of such rod being located in the same plane as the links K The supply-hopper G is supported upon the frame A and is provided with a flaring portion 9 at its base, within which the gates are adapted to swing into and out of position to interrupt the p assage-way leading from the hopper to the receptacle E. The receptacle E is divided into two compartments by an intermediate partition The lower end of the receptacle E is provided with an oscillating gate L, of such a shape that in one position it will close one compartment of the receptacle and simultaneously open the other compartment to discharge material therefrom. The gate L is pivoted at Z within the lower frame B and is connected by links Z and 1*, extending from points on opposite sides of its fulcrum, with rods L and L respectively, the upper ends of the latter being pivotally connected to an oscillatory deflector M, pivotally mounted within the upper end of the receptacle E and in alinement with the partition E The deflector M is provided with an arm m extending laterally at either side of its fulcrum m, the upper ends of the arms L and L being connected to the opposite ends of the arm The connections between the deflector and the discharge-gate are such that the material will be directed into the compartment of the receptacle which is closed, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

In order that the discharge-gate L may be swung from one position into another and the deflector M simultaneously oscillated, I provide suitable mechanism, which may be either manually operated or automatically operated by the final sinking of the receptacle upon the completion of the predetermined load therein. In Fig. 1 I have shown such mechanism as consisting in an arm N rigidly secured to and projecting upwardly from the discharge-gate L. To the upper end of the arm N are pivotally connected two pairs of links I 'and N such links ex tending in opposite directions from the arm N and being pivotally connected at their outer ends to the adjacent wall of the receptacle E. The links in each pair are pivotally connected to form kneej oints, which when alternately broken permit the dischargegate L to be oscillated from one of its positions to the other. Secured to the wall of the receptacle E, in positions to support the knee-joints of the pairs of links, are steps a and M, respectively. Pivotally mounted adjacent to stops it and n are bell-crank levers 0 and 0 which are provided with stops 0 to locate such levers in positions to break the knee-joints in the respective pairs of links when oscillated. Pivotally supported upon the bottom frame B are parallel lovers 0 and O united below their fulcrums by a link 0. The upper ends of the levers O and O terminate adjacent to the lower ends of the bell-crank levers 0 and 0, so that an oscillation of the levers O and 0 will swing the bell-crank levers, thereby breaking the knee-joints of the pairs of links. One of the leversas, for instance, O is extended. to form a handle 0 0 indicates a spring for normally oscillating the levers O and 0'' out of engagement with the bell-crank levers, while 0 indicates a stop-pin for limiting the movement of the levers against the tension of the spring.

Extending outwardly from the frame B, at a point adjacent to one of the lovers 0 O is a screw-threaded rod P, upon which is adjustably mounted a collar 19. The collar may be adjusted upon the screw by applying a retary motion to a milled flange 1) around the same. Then the collar is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the lever O rests against the rod P by reason of the tension of the spring 0".

In order that the sinking of the receptacle when it receives material through the main supply-gate may be limited, so that it will not fall sufliciently to operate the dischargegate, suitable means, such as disclosed in my prior patent above referred to, may be employed. Such means consist in a raceway R for a ball 8, the raceway being pivotally supported upon the frame A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A counterbalance-weight 1" projects from the raceway in a direction opposite to that in which the ball 8 is guided. Projecting from the outer end of the raceway is a stud which extends beneath the inturned upper end of a bracket 1", the lower end of which is rigidly secured to the arm D of the scale-beam.

S designates an inclined lug fixed upon the arm D of the scalebeam in alinement with the openings through the raceway R. Located in alinement above the lug S is a stop T, which depends from and is adjustably supported by a bracket 75, projecting laterally from the frame A.

w indicates a hanger-rod for supporting the weights, the upper end of the rod being connected to the outer end of the arm at of the scale-beam.

IV indicates a weight fixed to the lower end of the rod w and above which other weights may be located.

w indicates a conical weight loosely supported upon the rod w, which may be elevated above the weight W to permit other weights to be interposed.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The required number of weights is suspended upon the rod to corresponding to the quantity of material which it is desired to weigh. The weights swing downwardly the arm d, thereby raising the receptacle E, and with it the risers E and E thereby oscillating the stub-shafts F and F through the crank-armsf and f. The oscillation of the stub-shafts swings open the inner gate II, and with it the outer gate H through the engagement of the ear h with the set-screw 71/ The toggle-links K retain the outer gate in its open position, while the inner gate is closed by the sinking of the receptacle due to the material received therein. The closing of the inner gate is regulated by the weight F, which may be so adjusted upon the shaft F as to assist more or less the material in swinging downwardly the receptacle sufficiently to close the inner gate and so vary the proportion of material supplied to the receptacle through the restricted flow. After the inner gate has been closed the material is supplied to the receptacle in a restricted flow through the notch at the lower edge of the inner gate. IVhen the predetermined quantity of material has been supplied to the receptacle, the upward movement of the scalebeam breaks the joint of the toggle-links K through the engagement therewith of the rod W. The outer gate then closes, completely cutting off the flow of material to the receptacle. The upward movement of the scale beam when the inner gate is closed is arrested by ball 8 being engaged by the lug S and forced against the stop T. After arresting the upward movement of the scale-beam the ball 8 rolls from above the lug S owing to the oscillation of the raceway R due to the weight 1*, so that the restricted supply of materialthrough the receptacle may continue the lifting of the scale-beam. When the gates have been closed, the material within the closed compartment of the receptacle is discharged therefrom by manually swinging levers O and O by means of the handle 0 and thereby rocking the bell-crank levers and breaking the joint of the pair of toggle links, which at such time is in an alined position. The weight of the material then swings the gate L into its other position, thereby closing the other compartment of the receptacle, the gate being held in such position by the alinement of the other pair of toggle-links. The discharge-gate may also be automatically oscillated from one position to its other by adjusting nut 19 upon the rod P so that the lever 0 will be held in the path of movement of the lower end of the bellcrank lever 0, and consequently the lever 0 will also be retained in the path of movement of the bell-crank lever 0 The sinking of the receptacle due to the material therein counterbalancing the weight consequently automatically swings the gate so as to discharge the material from one compartment and coincidentally close the bottom of the other compartment. When the dischargegate is shifted to open one compartment and close the other, the flow of material from the receptacle permits it to at once rise and open the supply-gates to the closed compartment. Consequently the supply of material to the closed compartment commences while the material is being discharged from the open compartment.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved automatic weighing-machine in which the main supplypf material to be weighed is directly controlled by the sinking of the receptacle, while the completing or restricted sup ply of material is terminated directly by the upward movement of the scale-beam. It will be further observed that I have invented improved means for automatically or manually opening the discharge-gate after the predetermined quantity of material has been supplied to the receptacle.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a weighing-machine, the combina tion with a scale-beam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a discharge-gate at the bottom of said receptacle, means for permitting the opening and closing of said discharge- &

gate, means for gradually restricting the flow of material to said receptacle directly controlled by the sinking of the receptacle, and means for cutting oil the restricted supply oi material directly controlled by the scalebeam prior to opening the discharge-gate.

2. In a weighingmachine, the combination with a scalebeam of a receptacle supported by said. beam to receive the material to be weighed, a gate for gradually restricting the flow of material to said receptacle, a discharge-gate at the bottom of said receptacle, means for permitting the opening and. closing of said discharge-gate, means directly controlled by the sinking of said receptacle to permit said gate to close, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply of material, and means directly actuated by the rising of the scale-beam to etl'ect the closing of said second gate prior .to opening the dischargegate.

3. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam, of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a gate (for restricting the How of material to said receptacle, means directly actuated by the rising of said receptacle to open said gate, and by the sinking of said receptacle to permit said gate to close, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply oi material, means directly actuated by the rising oi the scale-beam to ell'ect the closing of said second gate, and means interposed between said gates for opening said second gate by the rising of the receptacle.

4. In' a weighing-machine, the combination with a scalebeam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a gate for gradually restricting the low of material to said receptacle, a riser carried by said receptacle, means interposed between said riser and. gate to control the closing and opening of the gate as the receptacle sinks and rises, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply of material, and means directly actuated by the rising of the scale-beam to etl'ect the closing of said. second gate.

5. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the i'naterial to be weighed, a gate for restricting the How of material to said receptacle, means directly controlled by the sinking of said receptacle to permit said gate to close, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply OI material, a pair of horizontal toggle-links for retaining said second gate open, and a projection extending upwardly from and carried by the scalebeam for breaking said links and allowing said second gate to close.

6. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scalebeam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a gate for restricting the flow of material to said receptacle, a riser carried by said receptacle, means interposed between said riser and gate to control the closing and opening of the gate as the receptacle sinks and rises, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply of material, a pair of togglelinks for retaining said second gate open, and a projection carried by the scalebeam for breaking said links and allowing said second gate to close.

7. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scalebeam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, means for gradually restricting the How of material to said receptacle directly controlled by the sinking of the receptacle, means for cutting oil the restricted supply of material directly controlled by the rising of the scale-beam, and means for preventing the scalebeam lrom rising sulliciently to actuate said cutting-oil means at the time the restricting means are actuated.

8. In a weighingmachine, the combination with a scalebeam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a gate for gradually restricting the [low of material to said receptacle, means directly controlled by the sinking of said receptacle to permit said gate to close, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply of material, means directly controlled by the rising of the scalebeani to ellect the closing of said second. gate, and means tor preventing the scale-bcam rising sulliciently to close the second gate at the time the first gate is closed.

9. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam of a receptacle sup ported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a gate for restricting the llcw of material to said rece tacle, a riser carried by said receptacle, means interposed between said riser and gate to control the closing nd opening of the gate as the receptacle sinks and rises, a second gate for cutting oil the restricted supply cl material, a pair of togglelinks for retaining said second gate open, a projection carried by the scale-beam for breaking said links and allowing said second gate to close, and means for preventing the scale-beam rising su'lliciently at the time the lirst gate is closed to close the second gate.

10. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scalebeam oi a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, means for gradually restrictiing the :[low of material to said receptacle directly controlled by the sinking of the receptacle, means for cutting oil the restricted supply of material directly controlled by the rising of the scale-beam, and means for regulating the proportion of material supplied to the receptacle through the restricted flow.

11. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scalebeam of a receptacle sup- IOC ported i by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, an oscillatory gate for re stricting the flow of material to said receptacle, a rotary shaft to which said gate is fiXed, a crank-arm on said shaft, a riser carried by the receptacle cooperating with said crank for controlling the closing and opening of said gate as the receptacle sinks and rises, and a second gate for cutting off the restricted supply of material upon the completion of the predetermined amount.

12. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, an oscillatory gate for restricting the flow of material to said receptacle, a rotary shaft to which said gate is fixed, a crank-arm on said shaft, a riser carried by the receptacle cooperating with said crank for controlling the closing and opening of said gate as the receptacle sinks and rises, a weight projecting radially from said shaft, means for permitting the adjustment of the position of said weight to regulate the quantity of material supplied prior to closing said gate, and a second gate for cutting off the re stricted supply of material upon the completion of the predetermined amount.

13. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a discharge-gate at the bottom of said receptacle, toggle-links pivotally connected at one end to the receptacle and at the other end to said gate to retainthe latter closed, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said receptacle adjacent said links, and an obstruction in the path of said lever to oscillate the same and effect the opening of the gate by breaking the toggle-links upon the final sinking of the receptacle.

14. I11 a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam of a receptacle supported by said beam to receive the material to be weighed, a discharge-gate at the bottom of said receptacle, toggle-links pivotally connected at one end to the receptacle and at the other end to said gate to retain the latter closed, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said receptacle adjacent said links, and a lever 10- cated in position to oscillate said bell-crank ternately open and close the compartments of the receptacle, a pair of toggle-links for holding the gate in each position, and an obstruction located in the path of movement of said links to alternately break the same and permit the gate to swing into position to open one compartment and close the other.

16. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam, of means supported by said beam upon which the material to be weighed is delivered, a gate for restricting the flow of material to said receiving means, mechanism for imposing the weight of said gate directly upon said receiving means whereby the rising and sinking of said means directly controls the opening and gradually closing of said gate, and means for cutting ofi" the restricted supply of material, directly controlled by the scale-beam.

17. In a weighing-machine, the combination with a scale-beam, of a receiving means supported by said beam upon which the material to be weighed is delivered, a gate for restricting the flow of material to said receiving means, mechanism interposed between said gate and said means for imposing the weight of the gate upon said receiving means whereby the opening and gradually closing of said gate is directly controlled by the rising and sinking of said receiving means, and means for cutting ofi the restricted supply of material directly controlled by the scale-beam.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. HOEPNER.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. WILKINsoN, EDWIN M. ASHORAFT, Jr. 

